I'm giving an hour-long lecture tomorrow before a class of 50 college students. This is something I've never done before (although I've given shorter presentations to smaller audiences). How can I minimize nervousness/stage fright?
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posted by zeri
on Feb 24, 2013 -
14 answers
I suffer from extreme performance anxiety but have been yanked in at the last minute to talk on something I know almost nothing about. Not performing is not an option. Need help.
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posted by starcrust
on Oct 18, 2012 -
23 answers
Earlier this year I was asked by a friendly co-worker to be his best man. I accepted against my better judgement because I got the sense he had no one else he could ask. Now faced with writing an appropriate heartfelt (possibly humorous) speech I am at a loss.
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posted by iheijoushin
on Jul 23, 2012 -
20 answers
I've been asked to speak at an event in a major American city in front of one or two hundred people. How much should I ask for my speaker's fee? Is
this an accurate guide?
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 18, 2012 -
6 answers
I would like my voice to be engaging and interesting sounding. Difficulty: I currently have the tonal range of a garbage truck.
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posted by peachfuzz
on May 7, 2012 -
8 answers
I would like some help being okay with being nervous, being clearly nervous, during presentations.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 26, 2012 -
25 answers
I will participating in a speech competition early next week and I am feeling extremely anxious. Help?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 10, 2012 -
9 answers
I have given hundreds of lectures to audiences of all sizes and compositions, but I have never given a PowerPoint lecture. Help a complete novice do a great job the first time.
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posted by escabeche
on Mar 18, 2012 -
35 answers
I've been asked to do a presentation to the new college hires that will be joining my department once they graduate. I've been given an hour, and told that I could pretty much do whatever I wanted with them, as long as I spend around 15 minutes talking about what it's like to work at our company and what they should expect for the first 3 months. I'd love to hear some input about how I could make this presentation awesome, and use the 1 hour effectively.
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posted by carmel
on Mar 13, 2012 -
12 answers
I'm giving a technical presentation at an industry conference in two months, with an audience (guessing 50-100 people) including people I'd really like to impress. I am extroverted but terrible at public speaking. How do I prepare and build confidence for the presentation in the next two months?
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posted by ista
on Jan 30, 2012 -
8 answers
When I speak in front of an audiance I feel breathless and I take long pauses to catch my breath; my throat gets dry. While know it is due to mental anxity, I don't know how to fix it. I feel as if nothing is coming out of my throat, no matter how much I have practiced the speech before.
I have tried chewing lozenges and breathing before the start of every sentence or clause.
Thanks.
posted by musicgold
on Jan 11, 2012 -
18 answers
How can I work on a more "natural" delivery (emphasis, pitch, etc.) when reading books aloud?
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posted by yersinia
on Nov 16, 2011 -
9 answers
How do you write a statement of confidence for the Managing Director of a company, as an employee?
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posted by menialjoy
on Oct 11, 2011 -
1 answer
I've discovered that I'm an excellent public speaker. How does one capitalize on that?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 16, 2010 -
9 answers
I agreed to step in as a last-minute speaker at a rally for public education tomorrow. I found
this question about speaking at rallies, which was really helpful. Now the problem is that I'm worried about being boring. How can I be a really lively, exciting speaker, especially considering that I'm speaking partly about personal experiences?
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posted by yomimono
on Oct 6, 2010 -
9 answers
I am looking for suggestions on how to liven up a presentation about my job to a kindergarden class.
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posted by TedW
on Sep 17, 2010 -
17 answers
Would you share videos of any presentation in front of a live audience, whose speaker's presentation style you found extremely effective
(or affective)?
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posted by Tufa
on Jul 21, 2010 -
3 answers
You're taking a public speaking class at a college located in the U.S. The instructor advises the class that glasses are not to be worn when making a speech, because the audience needs to be able to see the speaker's eyes. The problem with this directive is that you cannot read anything, at any size, without your glasses, and you don't have/can't wear contacts. What would you do?
(A student attending a school in the U.S., which gets the usual accredited university /federal funds/Pheaa and student loans etc., is facing this situation.)
posted by anonymous
on Jul 18, 2010 -
62 answers
I've been doing some public speaking, and it's been going pretty well. One critique from a friend of mine, however, is that my voice tends to drop at the end of sentences.
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posted by SpacemanStix
on Mar 26, 2010 -
9 answers
People routinely interrupt me when I'm speaking in a group. Why does this happen, and how can I stop it?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 18, 2009 -
37 answers
Looking for a discreet audio recording device (not one of the typical voice memo recording sticks you get at radio shack, this must be discreet). I am a public speaker at my company and I typically speak at multiple meetings per day, with no time to take notes for follow-up questions.
I need a stand-alone audio recorder that is discreet (wrist watch, pen, etc.) and that can handle at least 8 hours of recording on 1 charge / 1 set of batteries.
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posted by thankyoumuchly
on Oct 19, 2009 -
19 answers
I need some techniques to help me get through a relatively heartfelt wedding speech without crying like a big ol' baby...
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posted by Del Chimney
on Oct 5, 2009 -
17 answers
Giving a speech filter: IS there any online service or program that you can put in a block of text and it will tell approximately you how long it'll take to read it out loud?
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posted by rileyray3000
on Sep 10, 2009 -
13 answers
I have a horrible stutter which just came to my attention about a week ago. Not only is "uh" my favorite word but I repeat myself a lot. Help me, oh hivemind, to learn how to fix this problem. Written and audio examples inside.
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posted by Pseudology
on Sep 7, 2009 -
17 answers
Public Speaking Filter: I've been asked to speak in front of a very large group at a public rally tomorrow. I'm excited, but I've never done this before. Help!
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posted by inatizzy
on Aug 29, 2009 -
29 answers
I had a potentially damaging lapse of ability at work today and need some advice on how to keep it from happening ever again.
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 19, 2009 -
21 answers
I have an job interview in three days at a large public university medical center in the U.S. As the job has a public speaking component, they are asking all the candidates to give a 3-5 minute presentation on a technology or academia topic. How should I handle this?
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posted by playmobil
on Oct 3, 2008 -
3 answers
What is a workshop? I have been giving public speeches at conferences and the like for years, but occasionally I am asked to give a workshop and I'm not sure what one is or how to do one under the specific circumstances that I am often in.
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posted by jessamyn
on Feb 9, 2008 -
28 answers
The regents of my university want to redevelop the land holding the student apartments where I live. There's a public meeting on the subject this Friday and I've signed up to speak. I'm fine with speaking in public, but I'm clueless about participating in local politics — never gone to a school board meeting or called my congressperson or anything. What can I do to make my comments as effective as possible?
posted by nebulawindphone
on Nov 7, 2007 -
17 answers